The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders including arthritis and residuals of right knee replacement, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.
The deciding factor: The new evidence includes statements from the Veteran regarding his history of symptoms since active duty service, which are supported by post-service medical records indicating that he has continued to experience symptoms related to these conditions. This evidence supports a finding of continuity of symptomatology and thus establishes a link between the current disabilities and service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1756194
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1756194.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
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